Burner Assembly with Enhanced Flexibility

Abstract

The invention relates to a burner assembly with enhanced flexibility, comprising a plurality of fuel rods that can be mounted in and removed from a fuel rod passage and that are connected to a fuel supply device by a flexible line, wherein each flexible line can be individually opened and closed.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A burner assembly comprising:
 a burner unit having an inlet face and an outlet face, at least one oxidant passageway between the inlet face and the outlet face and at least one fuel-rod passageway between the inlet face and the outlet face, the burner unit being such that m fuel rods can be simultaneously mounted in the burner unit through the at least one fuel-rod passageway, where m>1,   n first-fuel rods, where n>1, each first-fuel rod being capable of being mounted in the or in one of the fuel-rod passageways, and of being removed from said fuel-rod passageway via the inlet face of the burner unit,   an oxidant-supply device capable of transporting a flow of oxidant from a source of oxidant to the burner unit for its injection through the at least one oxidant passageway into a combustion zone situated downstream of the outlet face,   a first fuel-supply device capable of transporting a flow of a first fuel from a first-fuel source to the burner unit for its injection into the combustion zone through one or the fuel passageway(s), the first fuel-supply device comprising a first supply line, a first flow meter, a first distributor and n first flexible lines connecting the first distributor to the n first-fuel rods,   i. the first supply line being capable of transporting the flow of the first fuel from the first-fuel source to the first distributor,   ii. the first flow meter being capable of regulating the rate of flow of the first fuel from the first-fuel source to the first distributor,   iii. the first distributor being capable of dividing the flow of first fuel into n subsidiary flows on the n first flexible lines,   wherein:
 the first fuel-supply device comprises one or more valves making it possible to close or open the n first flexible lines one by one so that, when x of the n first flexible lines are closed by said one or more valves, where 1≦x≦n−1, the first distributor divides the flow of first fuel into the n−x first flexible lines which are open for its injection into the combustion zone by the first-fuel rod or rods connected to said first open flexible lines. 
   
     
     
         17 . The burner assembly of  claim 16 , wherein n=m. 
     
     
         18 . The burner assembly of  claim 16 , wherein n=m+1. 
     
     
         19 . The burner assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 p second-fuel rods where p>1, each second fuel rod being able to be mounted in the or in one of the fuel-rod passageways and to be removed from said fuel-rod passageway via the inlet face,   a second fuel-supply device capable of transporting a flow of a second fuel from a second-fuel source to the burner unit for its injection into the combustion zone through one or the fuel-rod passageway(s), the second fuel-supply device comprising a second supply line, a second flow meter, a second distributor and p second flexible lines connecting the second distributor to the p second-fuel rods,   i. the second supply line being capable of transporting the flow of the second fuel from the second-fuel source to the second distributor,   ii. the second flow meter being capable of regulating the rate of flow of the second fuel from the second-fuel source to the second distributor,   iii. the second distributor being capable of dividing the flow of the second fuel into p subsidiary flows on the p second flexible lines,   wherein:
 the second fuel-supply device comprises one or more valves making it possible to close and open the p second flexible lines one by one so that, when y of the p second flexible lines are closed by said one or more valves, where 1≦y≦p−1, the second distributor divides the flow of second fuel over the p−y second flexible line(s) which is/are open for its injection into the combustion zone by the second-fuel rod or second-fuel rods connected to said second open flexible line(s). 
   
     
     
         20 . The burner assembly of  claim 19 , wherein n=p. 
     
     
         21 . The burner assembly of  claim 19 , wherein p=m. 
     
     
         22 . The burner assembly of  claim 19 , wherein p=m+1. 
     
     
         23 . The burner assembly of  claim 16 , wherein m=2. 
     
     
         24 . The burner assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the source of oxidant is a source of oxidant having an oxygen content of at least 80% vol, preferably of at least 90% vol. 
     
     
         25 . The burner assembly of  claim 16  for the staged combustion, wherein:
 the oxidant-supply device is capable of transporting several oxidant flows from a source of oxidant to the burner unit for its injection into the combustion zone, 
 at least one of said oxidant flows being a secondary oxidant flow injected into the combustion zone through an oxidant passageway situated at a distance ds>0 from the fuel-rod passageway(s), and 
 at least one of said oxidant flows being a primary oxidant flow injected into the combustion zone through the or one of the fuel-rod passageways or though an oxidant passageway situated at a distance dp from the fuel-rod passageway(s), where dp<ds. 
 
     
     
         26 . The burner assembly of  claim 25 , wherein at least one of the oxidant flows is a primary oxidant flow injected through the or one of the fuel-rod passageways and around one or the fuel rod(s). 
     
     
         27 . The burner assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the burner unit is an assembly of several fire bricks. 
     
     
         28 . The burner assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the burner unit is mounted in a furnace wall, the combustion zone downstream of the outlet face being situated inside the furnace. 
     
     
         29 . A furnace comprising the burner assembly of  claim 28 . 
     
     
         30 . A combustion method, comprising the step of combusting oxidant and fuel injected by the burner of the furnace of  claim 29 .